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Halo 2

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Revision as of 10:34, 17 August 2019 by AlexKVideos1 (talk | contribs) (split screen note)
Halo 2
Halo 2 cover
Developers
Bungie
Pi Studios
Windows Microsoft Game Studios
Publishers
Hired Gun|Microsoft Studios|Hired Gun[1]
Engines
Halo Engine
Release dates
Windows May 17, 2007
Halo 2 guide on StrategyWiki
Halo 2 on Wikipedia
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Warnings

For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Halo
Halo: Combat Evolved 2003
Halo 2 2007
Halo: Spartan (series)
Halo Online 2015*
Halo 5: Forge 2016
Halo Wars (series)
Halo Recruit 2017
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (series)
Halo Infinite 2021

This page is for the original 2007 PC release. For the remaster, see Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Key points

The PC port is also known as Halo 2 Vista or H2V.
It is essential to install the latest GFWL client before installing Halo 2. See Install the latest GFWL client.
Modding tools provided on disc.
All the maps from the Xbox version and its DLC are included except two from the Blastacular Pack (Tombstone and Desolation).
The Halo 2 Live master server went down in 2015 with no indication of its return.[2] See Project Cartographer.

General information

Bungie.net - The developer's site
Halopedia - A very detailed wiki for everything Halo related
Halo.Bungie.org - One of the biggest Halo fan sites around
Halo Maps - A fan site for downloading mods and maps for Halo 2 Vista
H2v Hub - Central Hub of the Halo 2 PC community
H2MT Repository - A massive collection of custom maps, mods, tools, & assets

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
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Requires online activation
Windows
All versions require Games for Windows - LIVE DRM.[Note 1]
This game is not available digitally.

Essential improvements

Patches

The latest patch is 1.01. It is strongly recommended to let the GFWL client auto-update Halo 2. If problems appear, it can be downloaded manually from here.

Skip intro videos

Use Project Cartographer to toggle the intro[citation needed]

Install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE client

It is essential to install the latest GFWL client before installing Halo 2, as the version on the disc is broken.
Update Games for Windows - LIVE Redistributable[citation needed]
  1. Uninstall Microsoft Games for Windows – LIVE Redistributable.
  2. Uninstall Microsoft Games for Windows Marketplace.
  3. Install the Games for Windows Marketplace Client.

Project Cartographer

Project Cartographer is an unofficial multiplayer mod which provides an alternative to the now defunct Games for Windows - LIVE platform for Halo 2 Vista. It allows players to use the Network tab as a server browser and connect via peer-to-peer (P2P) networking. This is a fast and streamlined solution as compared with available LAN gaming solutions, as it retains almost all original Live multiplayer functionality.
Adds a wide variety of extra features into the game itself.
Official website
Features
Source code

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Halo 2\

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Halo 2\Saved Games\

Video settings

In-game graphics settings.
In-game graphics settings.
Halo 2 in windowed mode can support almost any resolution which matches that of the desktop.

Template:Video settings

Input settings

In-game general keyboard settings.
In-game general keyboard settings.
In-game keyboard remapping settings.
In-game keyboard remapping settings.
In-game controller settings.
In-game controller settings.
Aim assist is always enabled for controllers. It can be disabled using Project Cartographer.

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Italian
Spanish
Depends on installation disc.
Latin American Spanish
Depends on installation disc.

VR support

3D modes State GG3D Notes
Nvidia 3D Vision
See also: Halo 2 3D-Vision and Black Screen Fix
TriDef 3D
iZ3D
vorpX
G3D
User created game profile, read important notes in the vorpx forum profile introduction.

Network

Online features require a Microsoft account (optional for offline play).

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
Xbox version only
LAN play
16 Versus
A Co-op mod is available though it is in beta.
Online play
16 Versus
A Co-op mod is available though it is in beta.

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
An unofficial update by the same people who made Project Cartographer is available here.
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 53, 80, 443, 3074
UDP 53, 88, 1000-1006, 3074
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
Port range 1000-1006 is required by Project Cartographer to host. See Project Cartographer
Specific details can be found here

Issues unresolved

No VoIP support

VoIP support was broken in one of the many GFWL client updates. Repairing it is on Project Cartographer's to do list and not yet implemented.[citation needed]

Issues fixed

A list of common fixes is available here.

Installation issues

Run startup.exe on the DVD in Vista compatibility mode[citation needed]

"One of the installation steps failed" error

You may receive this error message during installation.
Instructions[citation needed]
  1. Exit the installer.
  2. Open the redists folder on the game DVD.
  3. Run vcredist.msi as an administrator.
  4. After it has finished restart the game installer and it should proceed normally.

"LIVE gaming on Windows failed to initialise" error

This occurs on Windows 8 and later.
Instructions[citation needed]

Download and install these files: xliveredist.msi, gfwlclient.msi and wllogin_**.msi

Sign-in error

Close Xfire before signing in[citation needed]

Artifacting or flashing on Nvidia cards

Update Nvidia drivers to 337.88 or newer[citation needed]

Extreme mouse lag/jittering

Use Project Cartographer to limit the frame rate to 60 FPS[citation needed]

Heavy stuttering

Native Vsync implementation (enabled by default) is very bad and can cause stuttering even with required 60 FPS.
Force proper Vsync using D3DOverrider or your graphics card control panel[citation needed]

Game text is garbled or disappears

When running the game in windowed mode at 2K and 4K resolutions, there are issues with text breaking or disappearing completely.
Fix high resolution issues[3]
  1. Install Project Cartographer.
  2. Launch halo2.exe with the -hiresfix parameter.

Game does not save refresh rate of monitor

The game will not save your preferred refresh rate (120 Hz, 144 Hz, etc.) when you select it from the video settings. It defaults to 60 Hz each time the game reopens and has to be set again.[4]
Force refresh rate on startup[5]
  1. Install Project Cartographer.
  2. Run the game, and click on Cartographer from the main menu, or press Home.
  3. Open the Advanced Settings menu.
  4. Open Other Settings, and select Refresh Rate.
  5. Use the buttons to set the default refresh rate.

Some leaves on trees do not render

This issue is specific to Nvidia graphics cards.
Use Project Cartographer
Fixed in a future update.[6]

MSAA causes white lines on geometry

This issue is specific to Nvidia graphics cards.
Use Halo 2 Shader Override[7]

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9
Shader Model support 3
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics Havok
Audio Miles Sound System
Cutscenes Bink Video
Multiplayer Games for Windows - LIVE

Play without Games for Windows - LIVE

Games for Windows Live can be disabled as an alternative to using a local profile.
Halo 2 Vista XLiveless[8]

Use Halo 2 Vista XLiveless.

Command-line arguments

See command line arguments on how to use the following options.[9]
Parameter Description
-windowed Runs the game in windowed mode.
-novsync Disables Vsync. May improve the game performance.
-monitor:X Allows users to move the game between monitors when running in full screen. Replace X with monitor number (found in Windows Display Settings).
-nosound Runs the game without audio.

Example map

Example is a map not included in Halo 2 by default, but is present on the Halo 2 install disc and can be obtained by installing and using the Halo 2 map editor. Example is the only multiplayer map to include Fuel Rod Cannons, and includes custom "silenced" SMGs that are quieter than the ones in other maps and have laser pointers. Example is the smallest map in any Halo game and is unusually dense with explosives. Can also be directly downloaded here (for those that don't want to install the editor).

Maps ported from other Halo Games

Maps that are buggy and/or of low quality are excluded from this list.

Halo 2 XBox exclusive

Halo 1

Halo 3

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) Vista
Processor (CPU) 2 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 7 GB 10 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 6100
ATI Radeon X700
DirectX 9 compatible 		DirectX 10 compatible
Halo 2 can be played on Windows XP by following this tutorial (Games for Windows - LIVE features will be disabled).

Notes

  1. ↑ Games for Windows - LIVE DRM features: Legacy activation, local profile support unknown.

References